A Healthy Lawn For All To Enjoy

Perhaps you have already witnessed the evidence of the annual lawn fertilization ritual around your neighborhood – those tiny bits of fertilizer that miss the grass and wind up in the street and on the sidewalk. Keeping an attractive, grassy lawn is obviously something that we all delight in looking at, but we at the Matawan Animal Advisory Committee want to remind everyone to make sure that your lawn is safe for all to enjoy.

Many fertilizers contain pesticides and herbicides that are toxic if ingested, and can cause irritation to skin and paws. These pesticides are lethal to humans and your pet as well as the wildlife that shares your yard. “Pesticides…contribute to at least 72 million pesticide-caused bird deaths every year, and make their way into streams, where they kill still more wildlife” (http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/friendly_lawn.html).

Ingredients in fertilizers to avoid include carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, chloroethane, 2,4-D (aka 2,4-Dichlorophynoxyacetic acid), disulfoton and cocoa bean mulch (http://www.liquidfertilizerorganic.com/home-lawn-garden-fertilizer/safe-lawn-fertilizer/pet-safe-lawn-fertilizer/).

Since dogs, cats, and children love to play in grass, the label of a fertilizer will indicate a time frame in which you should keep family members and pets off the lawn. For this reason, be sure to read the label of any fertilizer you are considering buying. If you are wary of a product that warns about keeping pets and children off the lawn, don’t buy it.

If after fertilizing you notice the product on the sidewalk, may we suggest that you sweep the pellets back onto the lawn. This will provide added protection and safety to your pet and those of your friends and neighbors.

If you do not want to use a fertilizer containing toxic ingredients, there are plenty of fertilizers that are good for your lawn and are safe to use. Some fertilizers that are safe for pets and other animals are seaweed, fish emulsion and compost (http://www.gardeningknowhow.com/special/organic/pet-friendly-fertilizer.htm). Grass clippings and dead leaves are great as fertilizers and they’re free if you have trees and grass!

The Humane Society of the United States has useful suggestions for those who would like a healthy, natural lawn without using poisonous pesticides and herbicides. For ideas and additional links for information, visit them at http://www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/friendly_lawn.html

You don’t have to have a “green thumb” or use tons of products to have a healthy, beautiful and safe lawn. If you take the time to carefully read the label on any product(s) you are considering putting on your lawn, that’s half the battle. The other half is mustering up the time and “elbow grease” it takes to make that nice lawn happen.